Trump denies plans for strikes in Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday denied media reports suggesting that strikes on military installations in Venezuela could be imminent. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters: “No, it’s not true.”

Several U.S. media outlets had reported that the Trump administration was planning operations against military sites in Venezuela as part of its so-called “narco-terrorism” campaign, with strikes potentially imminent. According to The Miami Herald, the planned operations aim to target facilities used by the Cartel de los Soles, a drug-trafficking network accused of moving around 500 tonnes of cocaine annually.

Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading the cartel and designated Cartel de los Soles as a “terrorist organisation” in July 2025. Sources told the Herald that the targets could be struck by air within “days or even hours.” The U.S. has also doubled its reward for information on Maduro to $50 million and offers $25 million for key lieutenants such as Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Since early September, at least 14 strikes have been carried out, mainly in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, resulting in more than 61 deaths. Human rights groups and legal experts have questioned the legality of the operations, arguing that U.S. strikes on alleged drug vessels breach international law.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called the attacks “unacceptable” and called for an independent investigation.

Venezuelan President Maduro accused Washington of “fabricating” a war against his country, describing the allegations as “completely false,” and warned that U.S. military movements near Venezuela’s coast signal plans for a “new, eternal war.”

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